DEVELOPMENTS IN MARKETING CHANNELS AND SYSTEMS FOR SMALLHOLDER CHICKEN PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

There are a number of marketing opportunities that can benefit stakeholders in the smallholder chicken value chain. For sustainability, the smallholder chicken farmers depend on the constant availability of inputs like foundation chicks, simple housing and equipment. This paper presents observations from some activities carried out by Bdellium Consult Ltd on smallholder poultry developments in the past three years, and discusses the advances, challenges and opportunities in the development of marketing channels for the smallholder poultry production in Nigeria. Traditionally the cocks are allowed to run along with the hensto produce fertile eggs that the hens will sit on to incubate in order to produce chicks. However, in the
recent times, a class of farmers popularly called “Brood and Sell Farmers” that serve as mothering units for smallholder farmers have emerged. Complementary enterprises, vendors and artisans have also emerged within the value chain, with a number of marketing systems developing to support the different smallholder production systems. There are sellers of live birds who have organized themselves into virile Fowl Sellers Association (FSA) within majority of the live bird markets in urban and rural centers. The niche market for village chickens is now throwing up a number of companies that are investing in the setting up modern facilities for slaughtering and processing village chickens. There is therefore the need for more coordinated  interphase in the smallholder chicken production value chain in order for stakeholders to maximize and benefit from existing opportunities.